Why Walmart’s Nutrition Pledge Really Matters

It was hard to miss Walmart’s big announcement last week. I’m sure you know all about it by now, but I wanted to offer up my point of view.

I tuned in to watch part of the webcast, which featured First Lady Michelle Obama who congratulated America’s biggest grocer on its commitment. You can view the webcast here or read the First Lady’s remarks. Here’s what the announcement was all about. Walmart pledged to:

Make healthier choices more affordableIncluding slashing the prices of fresh produce (saving consumers $1 billion/year) and eliminating a premium price for better-for-you products

Reformulate thousands of packaged foods by 2015Reducing sodium by 25% and added sugars by 15%, eliminating all trans fats

Develop criteria for a simple front-of-package sealA consistent way to identify healthier foods

Build new stores in areas to increase accessibility of healthier foods
Helping to eliminate food deserts in urban areas

Throughout the webcast and immediately following, I noticed several cynical tweets. Soon I was reading some less than positive blog posts, including…

A few eyebrows were raised over Michelle Obama’s participation. Some people dismissed the press conference as a simple PR stunt. Others just couldn’t get past the fact that this was Walmart — an often controversial chain that has been criticized for its treatment of workers and dismissal of unions, as well as its mammoth size and impact on a community.

Whatever you think about the country’s largest retailer, this was a big deal. Sure, we can argue that this was a PR stunt, and it’s all about making money. But still, these changes can make a huge difference. Here’s what our First Lady had to say…

“…today, with this announcement, the largest corporation in America is launching a new initiative that has the potential to transform the marketplace and to help American families put healthier food on their tables every single day. This Nutrition Charter promises a real change that can have a fundamental impact in how our kids eat, you see, because when parents have the information they need about the products they buy, that puts them back in charge, so they can make good decisions for their families.

When kids are consuming these products every day, those reductions in sugar, and salt and trans-fat can really add up. When healthier options are finally affordable, that can affect every single meal a child eats, whether it’s adding fruit at breakfast, or whole wheat bread at lunch, or some more veggies on the plate at dinner. And when 140 million people a week are shopping at Walmart, then day by day, and meal by meal, all these small changes can start to make a big difference for our children’s health.”

Think about it: 140 million people a week shop at Walmart. That’s an enormous number. But it’s not just the people walking through the doors of Walmart who will benefit. The real significance is the trickle down factor. Walmart is the largest customer of practically every food company in the country. The pressure is on to reformulate or innovate — or you’re shut out of getting on the shelf at Walmart.

The real reason why this move is such a big deal is Walmart’s marketplace muscle — the power it has to ignite change throughout the food industry. Walmart is not only changing the nutritional profile of its private brand, it’s calling on all the major food manufacturers to get in line. And they’ll do it.

That’s the power of this announcement. Yes, it’s great that Walmart is reducing the price of fresh produce. We need to encourage the consumption of more whole foods. That’s really important. But we need to face the facts, families rely on packaged foods — and we shouldn’t outright condemn anything that comes in a box, bag or can. Let’s try to make these convenience items more nutritious — reduced sodium soups, cereal and yogurt with less sugar and frozen entrees void of trans fats.

We can nudge folks to eat fresh and prepare foods from scratch using whole foods. But I’m happy to know that when they stray from the perimeter of the grocery store, they’ll have more nutritious packaged options to choose from.

We can do all the educating we want, but people need healthier options to choose from, and they need the healthy options to be affordable. Why shouldn’t Michelle Obama acknowledge Walmart’s nutrition initiative. I’m glad she was part of the press conference. She recognizes that to truly change the way America eats, we need to tackle the issue from several angles.

I applaud Walmart for this commitment. The bar has been raised. That’s how positive changes happen.

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Janet, I totally agree and said as much on another blog earlier today. As a dietitian in a relatively small (202) regional (SE) chain we understand that a company the size of Walmart. who buys and sells to millions around the world .has the potential to have a huge effect on the manufacturers it chooses to order from. In demanding these changes Walmart will help all supermarkets better meet the demands of their customers.

Well said, Janet. We need to change the landscape in which food–often unhealthful food–
is readily available at all hours and that sabotage even those of us who try to eat healthfully
and raise our kids to do the same. I hope this initiative leads others to jump on board and create
more healthful options and make nutritious food more affordable.
Thanks again for your perspective–I second it and am looking to the future
when food manufacturers and those who sell food will help Americans better work towards
achieving the ideals set forth by current dietary guidelines.

This is so true. We preach moderation, and sometimes all we can hope for is moderate changes that produce big results. Wal-mart is not going to become an organic farmers market overnight, but any changes they make have a huge ripple effect amongst the food industry. Thanks for your great comments on this topic!

Janet- I am active in leadership in the Dallas (Texas) Dietetic Association, and currently serve on a committee in coalition of with City of Dallas, partnering with Walmart, as they have awarded us a grant to build a pilot program, educating high school students about nutrition, health risks and eating right-classes start tomorrow! 🙂 I agree with your comments- Walmart is a powerhouse with consumers in the palm of their hand. Who better influencer than someone that can serve ‘140 million shoppers a week? Have at it Walmart!

I second your opinion! As a clinical dietitian for underprivledged patients, I know how many adults and kiddos are choosing to shop the inside or center of the grocery store. So many are choosing those higher sodium and higher fat products because they are cheaper and more shelf stable. I commend a major player in the grocery market for stepping up to the plate and making some changes for the good. For those of us who can afford to buy fresh veggies and higher end healthy products it may not seem like a big deal, but those folks who can’t, I think this will certainly make a difference. Thanks for the update!

I thank you for pointing out the bright side. I think there are parts of this campaign that are promising but Walmart will never be a health mecca. I agree with you that American buy packaged food (too much) but I am weary these changes will make these packaged foods healthy. The fruit and vegetable pricing to me is encouraging. All in all I have mixed feelings but appreciate your take.

Thanks for putting my exact feelings about this into such a well-written piece. The nutritional importance of this move for the 140 million average Joe Americans simply cannot be over-looked. I was shocked at the class discrimination that oozed from some well-respected nutrition experts’ responses to the Walmart announcement. I am a huge admirer of this blog – thanks so much for keeping it real!

I think it’s always reasonable to view the actions of a giant megacorp with a cynical eye. That said, it’s possible for a company to do the right thing, regardless of the reason. I feel like a lot of my peers who take the “No Walmart. Period.” stance are the same people who have the most luxury of choice.

Erin Kelley, MS, RD

Well said! You definitely make a good argument for Wal-Mart’s announcement and its impact. There are positives and negatives to any action, but I agree with your stance and think that overall, this is a good thing.